But the beautiful young lady--her name was Miss VivianHerbert--put out her arm and drew Cedric to her side, lookingprettier than before, if possible.

"Lord Fauntleroy shall say what he thinks," she exclaimed; "and Iam much obliged to him. I am sure he thinks what he says." Andshe kissed him on his cheek.

"I think you are prettier than any one I ever saw," saidFauntleroy, looking at her with innocent, admiring eyes, "exceptDearest. 0f course, I couldn't think any one QUITE as beautiful asDearest. I think she is the prettiest person in the world."

"I am sure she is," exclaimed Miss Vivian Herbert. And she laughedand kissed his cheek again.

She kept him by her side a great part of the evening, and thegroup of which they were the center was very gay. He did notknow how it happened, but before long he was telling them allabout America, and the Republican Rally, and Mr. Hobbs and Dick,and in the end he proudly produced from his pocket Dick's partinggift,--the black silk handkerchief.

"I put it in my pocket to-night because it was a party," hesaid. "I thought Dick would like me to wear it at a party."